At the beginning of 2025, new data revealed that China’s population aged 65 and above has reached 220 million, accounting for 15.6% of the total population — officially marking China’s entry into a “moderately aged society” as defined by the United Nations (where the elderly population exceeds 14%).

When including those aged 60 and above, the number climbs to 310 million, representing 22% of the population. This transition took only about 21 years, far faster than France’s 126 years and Japan’s 24 years, making China one of the fastest-aging countries in the world.

Distinct Features of China’s Aging

Global Scale: China now has the largest elderly population in the world, accounting for 26.4% of the global total — meaning one in every four elderly people worldwide is Chinese.

“Getting Old Before Getting Rich”: When China’s aging rate surpassed 14%, its per capita GDP was about $13,000, while Japan and South Korea had already exceeded $30,000 at the same stage — showing that wealth accumulation lags behind population aging.

Regional Disparities: Provinces such as Liaoning (21.1%), Shanghai (19.6%), and Chongqing (18.9%) have entered a super-aged phase, while Guangdong and Tibet remain relatively young with aging rates below 10%.

Mounting Challenges

Economic Pressure: The working-age population has dropped by 50 million in the past decade. The elderly dependency ratio has risen to 22.5% (meaning 1 senior supported by every 5 workers), and the pension contributor-to-beneficiary ratio has fallen from 3.2:1 to 2.7:1, putting fiscal sustainability under strain.

Healthcare Strain: Chronic diseases account for 85% of deaths among the elderly, driving up medical spending. Yet, geriatric hospital bed availability and integrated medical-elderly care remain seriously insufficient.

Family Structure Transformation: The legacy of the one-child policy has created the “4-2-1 family model” (four grandparents, two parents, one child), leaving the younger generation with heavier caregiving burdens and weakening traditional family-based eldercare.

The Rise of the Silver Economy

Booming Industries: Elderly consumption is shifting from basic survival to quality and lifestyle, with strong growth in senior tourism (57% of consumption structure), smart eldercare technologies (15% annual growth), and rehabilitation services — forming a trillion-yuan market.

New Youth Employment Opportunities: The eldercare industry is becoming increasingly youthful. For example, at Lihua Education, over 80% of employees are post-2000s, providing digitalized services such as arts education and study tours for seniors.

Silver Talent Dividend: More than half of China’s elderly are aged 60–69, with over 20 million possessing professional skills and experience. Companies like McDonald’s and community centers actively recruit retirees, and 53.58 million senior volunteers now contribute 1.64 billion service hours annually.

Future Outlook: Challenge and Transformation

By 2035, China’s population aged 60 and above may exceed 400 million, making up over 30% of the total population — a critical demographic turning point.

Yet, this shift is also driving transformation:

Policies like delayed retirement and personal pension schemes are helping to ease the burden.

The rise of age-friendly technologies (including ISO-certified smart devices) and integrated care communities (2,990 pilot sites nationwide) are reshaping the aging ecosystem.

Ultimately, China’s aging society is evolving from “active aging” to “joyful aging,” as the nation seeks to ensure that its elderly not only live longer — but also live better.